People named on an NHS certificate for partial help with health costs (HC3) may also get help.

A sight test is also free if the test is carried out through a hospital eye department or at the request of a hospital as part of the management of your eye condition.

NHS complex lens vouchers

To be eligible, your lenses need to be either -10/+10 dioptres or more, or prism-controlled bifocal lenses.

Complex lens vouchers are a contribution towards the cost of these lenses – currently £14.60 for single vision lenses and £37.40 for bifocal lenses.

The vouchers are only available to those who meet the clinical criteria and aren't eligible for one of the main optical vouchers.

Mobile sight tests

If you're eligible for a free NHS sight test, you may also be entitled to a mobile sight test. This is when an optometrist comes to visit you:

at home – if you're unable to leave home unaccompanied because of physical or mental illness or disability

at a residential or care home – if you're a resident and unable to leave the home unaccompanied because of physical or mental illness or disability

at a day centre – if you can't get a sight test at an optician's practice because of physical or mental illness or disability, or difficulties communicating your health needs unaided

How can I claim a refund?

Sight test fees

If you paid for a sight test but think you may qualify for an NHS-funded sight test, or you're about to have a test and you aren't sure if you qualify, ask the optometrist for a receipt that shows you paid for the test and the date of payment.

Glasses or contact lenses

If you have already used a voucher towards the cost of your glasses or lenses, you can't get a refund for any difference between the voucher value and the actual cost of your glasses or lenses, unless it was a complex lens voucher.

If you paid for glasses or contact lenses and think you may have qualified for a voucher, you can claim a refund. You'll need a receipt for the glasses or contact lenses you've bought, including the amount you paid and the date of payment.

Complete an HC5 claim form for optical charges (PDF, 398kb). Make sure you enclose your optical prescription and the receipt with your HC5 when you send it off. The maximum refund you can get will be the voucher value that matches your prescription.

Lost or damaged glasses or contact lenses

If your glasses or contact lenses have been lost or damaged and you pay for replacement or repairs, you'll only be considered for a refund if you're entitled to a voucher.

If you have a question about claiming health costs

If you have questions about help with health costs, join the Help with Health Costs team on Facebook, where the NHS Business Services Authority (NHS BSA) will respond to your queries Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

Or you can call the Help with Health Costs helpline on 0300 330 1343.

You must check that you're entitled to help with health costs before signing any declaration stating that you are. You may have to pay a fine if you make a false claim. You would have to pay the cost of the sight test and the value of the voucher charge, plus a penalty charge of up to £100.